So you want to lose weight? Welcome to the club – there are tens of millions of North Americans in the same boat. Why are we so fat? Why are we so frustrated and stuck?

Well, the clue is stated above, we are frustrated and furthermore, the more stressed we get about our weight, our lives, the economy and life in general, the more weight you and I are going to load onto our frames. That is just the bottomline.

You can go on the very best, hottest, trendiest program that has hit the local, national or international media… But, and yes there is a big “BUT”, it will be “STRESS” that will sabotage the very best weight loss program. If whatever program you choose, can help you lose 10 pounds, the fact is that if you de-stress first, you are far more likely to lose more weight and equally important…KEEP IT OFF.

I tell my patients to incorporate the following stress reducing techniques and incorporate a couple potent herbals to help them regain control over their sense of well-being, while controlling their waistline as well.

Supplemental Tips: If you counter the ravages of stress and support balance in your body, it will often curb your appetite and food cravings. My patients often use chromium, B vitamins, lipoic acid, vitamin C and Chinese Mushrooms such as Cordyceps to nourish the body’s need for balanced inner chemistry and harmony.

Stress Central: There are great software programs to identify “hidden” stressors in your life that can silently sabotage your wellness and weight loss goals: http://tinyurl.com/yf8vpo2

And here is an excellent Biofeedback Program (actually more like a game), that will train you to relax and de-stress: http://tinyurl.com/yzd9w9o

Drinking three to four cups of coffee could help reduce the risk of getting diabetes by up to 25 percent, according to the latest review of the scientific literature. Over the years, my patients have often bashfully admitted to their coffee habit. Having written a national article myself on the benefits of coffee, they are surprised with my deep appreciation of the therapeutic benefits of coffee. Interesting is the powerful quote from one of the lead researchers on coffee’s benefits.

“If such beneficial effects were observed in interventional trials to be real, the implications for the millions of individuals who have diabetes mellitus, or who are at future risk of developing it, would be substantial,” wrote the reviewers, led by Rachel Huxley from the University of Sydney, Australia.

Coffee is one of the world’s largest traded commodities produced in more than 60 countries and generating more than $70 billion of sales annually. Indeed, coffee is loved and now for yet another good reason, with this latest diabetes research. In the United States alone there are some 24 million people with diabetes, equal to 8 percent of the population, with an economic impact of $174 billion.

So, if you already enjoy coffee, it may now be considered one of your new found health foods (also see my earlier blog about coffee reducing risk of Prostate Cancer). It is still important to control your stress, eat your vegetables and limit carbs while getting daily exercise. Bottomline – controlling risk factors for any health condition is important. Use of coffee as one of these tools is growing in promise, it will be interesting to see what the follow up research shows over the course of the next few years. Until then, enjoy your coffee, work with your doctors and be well.

Whenever you can do something that most of us enjoy and also gain added health benefits, well that’s something to get excited about. The latest research suggests that a cup or more of coffee per day may hold additional benefits that were previously unknown.

Drinking coffee on a daily basis may reduce the risk of lethal and advanced prostate cancers by a significant 60% according to new findings from the US. A large study of approximately 50,000 men over the course of four years found that males with the highest intake of coffee had significantly lower risks of aggressive prostate cancer.

How does coffee work its magic?
Well we know it is a rich source of antioxidants,it also has an impact on insulin and glucose metabolism, along with sex hormone levels, all of which contribute to prostate cancer risk.

There is clear evidence that avoiding smoking, walking 30 minutes 3 times a week and controlling your weight can all help maintain a healthier prostate. Now we know that your daily coffee habit can also further reduce your risk. I also routinely recommend for my patients vitamin D3, Zinc, Lycopene and Saw Palmetto for my patients serious about taking a proactive stance when it comes to the health of the little walnut sized gland that seems to become a growing problem for more and more men.

It is important for women young and old alike to know that the changes associated with menopause happen well before the loss of one’s period. The gradual decline of hormones (particularly estrogen and progesterone) begins months and often years prior to significant symptoms.

As women near closer to the stage of Peri-Menopause in their life, they can be unsure how to manage the accompanying symptoms and reluctant to use prescription drugs. All women know the symptoms of menopause that is frequently associated with hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, anxiety or depression, lowered sex drive and changes in memory.

Furthermore, the most common symptoms of menopause and peri-menopause do not affect all women the same way or with equal degrees of severity. In my clinical practice, one of the biggest factors that I have discovered relative to symptoms of menopause is the level of stress that a woman has experienced in the years and months prior to menopause.

A well nourished and nurtured body transitions through the change of life much more harmoniously. The adrenal glands that produce adrenaline, cortisol and DHEA must be supported in order to prepare properly for menopause, and the pre-menopause era termed ‘peri-menopause’.

First and foremost, one must lessen all controllable burdens to your wellness. That means getting plenty of sleep, eating a minimum of 5 to 7 servings of fresh veggies and fruit per day, drinking 2 liters of purified water per day, use of a good daily multi-vitamin and minimizing caffeine intake to the equivalent of a cup of coffee per day.

Secondly, specific nutrients need to be consumed from my experience including vitamin C, B complex and targeted adrenal botanicals called Adaptogens. Adaptogens by definition include herbals such as ginseng, ashwaghanda, rhodiola and various Chinese mushrooms such as Cordyceps.

Ideally, a third step will also be taken where regular moderate exercise and weight optimization will also be actively pursued. My patients also routinely perform a salivary hormonal panel that includes DHEA, Cortisol (4X measures throughout the day), Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone. Testing and not just guessing as to what the body needs allows for a strategic approach towards wellness and allows for re-measurements to help establish a strong foundation for the next phase of living life to its fullest.

Even if you are doing a good job of taking your diabetic medication, you may already be manifesting symptoms of long term diabetes such as neuropathy, which simply means nerve damage. How could this be?

Well, your medication may be accelerating the nerve damage. You might be scratching your head by now and wondering how could this be. After all, your diabetic medications are suppose to protect you. Right?

Not so quick, the drug called Metformin, a popular drug given to treat diabetes and insulin resistance, can also cause a B12 deficiency. A recent survey found that 40% of Metformin users were deficient in vitamin B12.

Worse yet, a full 75 percent of individuals taking Metformin also suffer from the peripheral neuropathy. This is no great secret, even though your doctor and pharmacist may not have told you this important fact. These findings were reported at the American Diabetes Associations 69th Annual Scientific Sessions in June, 2009. The general consensus at this point in time is that anyone using Metformin that already has peripheral neuropathy should be tested for B12 deficiency.

I can tell you as a clinician for over 17 years, you can test fine for B12 levels in your blood and still have symptoms. I have encouraged for years that all my patients on Metformin take B12 on a daily basis.

Bottomline: You don’t want to wait until your nerves are damaged to start taking B12, playing catch-up when it comes to nerve damage is not something anyone should casually accept. If you also take acid blockers for acid reflux or indigestion, your risk of B12 deficits is amplified as well. Indeed, the best medicine in this case is prevention.

Health Tips
On the Go!

Improve Posture

1.Avoid slouching. Be aware of your posture as you walk, sit, and drive, keep shoulders squared and head pulled back and up.

2.Imagine a thread pulling the top of your head toward the ceiling. Visualization can help improve your sense of position.

3.If your job requires you to sit for long periods, take frequent breaks to stand, stretch and shake it out.

4.Maintain a strong core to help support proper posture. Add core-training exercises to your daily routine.

5.A firm mattress and ergonomic pillow help achieve proper back support while you sleep, so you'll stand straighter in the a.m.

Please Note: The information and all statements provided on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information provided, and any products or services mentioned, are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Please speak with a health professional for your individual health and medical concerns and consultation.